Economics was memorably
described as ‘the dismal science’ by the Scottish writer and philosopher Thomas
Carlyle in the early 19th Century. So it’s fitting that, in the
early 21st Century there could be lessons on how to be happy from behavioural
economics and the behavioural sciences.
Happiness by Design was written
by Professor of
Behavioural Science at the London School of Economics Paul Dolan. The book is
interesting for two main reasons: first, like other books on happiness, it
covers a lot of useful research, including Dolan’s own contribution to the work
on happiness – he was heavily involved with specifying the measures on happiness which are now included in the work of the Office for National Statistics.
But Dolan focuses on the
personal, showing how to implement findings from the research. The second half
of the book includes practical tips to help us be happy. Not by thinking about
it, and not by devoting ourselves to 24x7 hedonism (which would be pretty
exhausting). Rather, by using insights and techniques from the behavioural
sciences. And concentrating on finding the right balance between pleasure and
purpose. At the risk of stating the obvious, the book recommends that we spend
more time on the things that make us happy, and less time on the things that make
us unhappy – happiness comes from what you do, and what you don’t do. Which might
even mean chucking in your job if it’s causing unhappiness - although it might
be easier to quit the old job than find a new one which will make you happier.
Which probably brings us back to traditional
economics. As Thomas Carlyle might agree.
